Serena awoke the next morning, wearing Severus' shirt and wrapped in his arms tightly, his thigh pressing between her legs and pinning her to the bed. As her eyes flickered open they met his dark eyes gazing down at her and she realised he must have woken her. She smiled dreamily. "hello."
The corners of his mouth twitched and he stroked her hair back from her face. "good morning," he purred. "would you like to take a shower?"
She giggled and let herself be dragged off by him. After their lengthy shower Serena summoned some clothes from her office but Severus did not let her put them on- instead he wrapped her in his shirt again. He did the buttons for her slowly and she didn't take her eyes from his face as though she was mesmerised by this handsome man.
"I'll make you some breakfast" she said when he was finished. "you go and make your potion for Albus, and can you start some of my own? If last night was anything to go by I think I'm going to need to keep my magic under control."
"I had forgotten about Albus," he murmured, stroking the side of her face with his rough fingertips.
"I know you had," she smiled.
He kissed her again, unable to keep away but she almost pushed him towards the store cupboards. "go, go, he'll be here soon."
Serena could not stop smiling as she fried breakfast for Severus. Everything had changed yesterday and she could hardly believe it was for real. She realised her feelings had been there for a long time- else why would it have hurt so much when Severus was away from her? But now she had found such amazing happiness in him and had made her decision. This was what she wanted. He was… he was her soul mate, if she believed in such things and she realised Severus did not fall in love with just anyone- she had thought he was still in love with, and mourning for, Lily. But she had healed him- as he had healed her.
Severus made the potion as quickly as was possible- wanting to get back to Serena. When he did she pushed him into his armchair and handed him his cooked breakfast on a plate.
"it looks delicious" he murmured, his eyes still trained on her.
She laughed. "I'm going to go and sort my hair out."
He watched her disappear into the bedroom again. He could not quite believe this was happening. Did this mean now that he was engaged? They were in love and she would be his wife! He could not stop smiling all the way through eating, and he even washed the plate by hand.
"better?" she said, standing in the doorway. She had clipped her fringe back, just how he like it.
"beautiful" he said quietly. She blushed slightly and walked over to sit in his lap. He smiled and kissed her beautiful face. "we have some things we have to talk about" Serena murmured. It was almost impossible not to look into his dark eyes.
"we do."
"I don't think people should know about us, just yet."
"I agree" he said, stroking her soft hair. "we should be anonymous for the time being, especially from students."
"although I imagine Albus already knows" she said smiling.
"it's probable, although it did not appear that way last night."
"why did his words have such an affect on you?" she asked, linking her fingers through his.
"I… He showed my dark side" he admitted. "the… the women I have… they-"
"the other women you have been with?" she said smiling slightly at his embarrassment.
"they were not respectable," he said shortly.
"were they prostitutes?" she asked curiously.
He nodded once, not looking at her- he felt ashamed.
"I thought it was just natural talent" she said smiling teasingly, "not years of practice."
Severus looked back down at her surprised. Again- she was not horrified or outraged- she accepted it and did not judge him for it.
"you should be disgusted" he said quietly.
"people have needs… anyway I don't think I'm one to judge..."
"you amaze me" he said kissing her forehead lightly. "anyway, tell me about you and Black."
"me and Sirius just had a physical relationship- nothing else, neither of us wanted anymore, it was just… entirely physical."
"I did not like the way he treated you" Severus said through gritted teeth, remembering the meeting at Grimauld place.
"I treated him as he treated me," she said sternly. "don't judge Sirius, don't blame him. It's in the past… let it go."
He nodded, not entirely happy, but she kissed him and he became lost once more. This time she took control and there was no asking in that kiss, just taking. Her hands moved across his chest, feeling the power from his arms and shoulders as her fingers entwined in his hair and she felt him stir beneath her.
There was a knock on the door.
"dammit" Severus said angrily as Serena scrambled off him. She stayed in the kitchen to hide and this time it was Severus who kissed her, making sure all she thought about was him.
She watched through the crack in the door as Severus picked up the potion and opened the door to Albus.
"Severus, my boy, how are you?"
"fine Albus and yourself?"
"marvellous, absolutely marvellous."
"here is your potion."
"excellent, excellent! Now, are you going to invite me in for a coffee?"
"actually-"
"excellent!" Albus walked in and Severus had no choice but to shut the door behind him.
Serena tiptoed into the bedroom quickly and listened in the darkness.
"tea or coffee?" Severus said in a disgruntled voice, casually vanishing the cups from that morning with a subtle wave of his wand.
"coffee, please. Now I've had it confirmed I am getting so much older," Albus said cheerfully, sitting down and crossing his legs comfortably.
"that is a natural process Albus" Severus said smoothly, boiling the kettle.
"indeed, but it was confirmed for me last night."
"indeed" Severus said sourly.
"yes- you see I came here, to see you so foolishly dressed and with such extreme happiness in your eyes, I merely assumed you had some- er- purchase, if I may, however-"
"Albus, what are you getting at?" Severus said sharply.
"well my dear boy, you seem to have set only two mugs out, rather than the three required."
After an awkward silence the bedroom door creaked open and Serena stepped from the darkness, a guilty expression on her face. "Albus, it's my fault, I know it's not professional but-"
"not at all, not at all" Albus waved her off, beaming. "now come and join us!"
"er… I'll just put on something more, er suitable" she said slightly awkwardly, realising she was in Severus' shirt, with little underneath.
She disappeared back into the bedroom and Severus sat down, handing Albus his coffee in a slightly disgruntled manner. "how did you know?"
"ah, just your joy last night, of course. I am so happy for you Severus!"
Severus smiled slightly. "I am a very lucky man" he said quietly.
"indeed you are, she is magnificent, and quite a beauty might I add."
Severus smiled fully this time. "she is."
Serena came in at that point and sat next to Albus on the sofa, smiling at Severus opposite her.
"now, how are you, my dear?" he asked her smiling.
"I'm… perfect" she said softly, not taking her eyes from Severus.
Albus chuckled, "ah, young love."
"we're going to keep it private though Albus" Serena said, forcing her eyes away from Severus. "and if you aren't happy about members of staff having a relationship, then I can get another job, I-"
"don't worry about it! I have no such rules! I am… so very happy for you! And now, I shan't intrude any longer." He stood up and Severus showed him to the door.
"look after her, my boy. Although I can see from the way you look at her, that I don't need to tell you."
"Albus I…" Severus checked Serena was out of ear shot. "thank you for… I should have taken your advice before, I have never been so happy."
Albus' eyes filled up and he shook the man's hand firmly, before smiling at him and walking back to his office.
Severus shut the door and turned walked back into the kitchen where Serena was sitting on the sofa waiting for him. "I knew we couldn't hide anything from him," she said. He sat down next to her and she moved closer into his side, letting him put an arm around her.
"what are your plans for this weekend?" he asked her, hoping she had none.
"today I have to take Remus' wolfsbane and tomorrow daytime I am going to see a Quidditch match with Sirius. Otherwise, I'm as free as a hippogriff."
"and how are you planning to spend your free time?"
"well that depends" she smiled. "on whether you are free this weekend too, and whether you'd like to spend some time with me?"
"spend the weekend with me" he said, taken by impulse. "spend it with me and drop all your plans." He manipulated his voice to give it an authorative tone and watched as Serena shut her eyes in contentment. It appeared she liked it when he was stern.
"I'll come to Spinners End, that would be lovely, but I can't drop my plans. I'm sure you can do without me for a few hours."
"so you'd rather spend time with Black than with me?" he said slightly threateningly.
Serena laughed and sat up so she could kiss him, smiling at his lack of subtlety. "this is not about who I prefer to spend time with, this is about me sticking to promises and I'm not going to continue this discussion."
"So you do prefer Black?" he said turning his head away.
She laughed again and put a hand on the side of his face gently, so she could make him kiss her. He pretended he was reluctant, although she had won the argument a while ago, and he turned his head again, putting a scowl on his face.
Serena could not stop smiling and she turned her charms on to try and make him succumb. She kissed his cheekbone, and then his neck, and slowly made her way back to his lips, which she teased with a lick.
"well," she murmured. "seeing as you're clearly not interested, I'm going to go and see Sirius. Just…let me change into something more seductive, so that he'll want me again."
She walked into the bedroom without a backward glance and within five seconds Severus had jumped up and raced after her, slamming the bedroom door and muffling her delighted scream.
